Extension
It Starts With Us
Youth Development
Developing Responsible Youth
VanMeter, Goodman
Family and Consumer Science
Leadership
Health
McCreary County is a rural community with few activities targeting youth. Currently 52.6% of McCreary county youth live in poverty. With tough economic times and limited resources, it is important to provide youth with opportunities to develop essential life skills. In McCreary County. Twenty three percent of teens are high school dropouts. The teen pregnancy rate has increased over the last ten years to 34 compared to a state rate of 31. School lunches are free for everyone child. Programming is designed to engage young people and provide educational opportunities that develop decision-making skills, independence, and personal responsibility.
To develop youth with confidence and strong communication skills.
To develop youth that will possess critical thinking skills, independence, personal responsibility, and life skills that enable them to become productive citizens and competitive members of the future workforce.
To develop youth that has an appreciation for the natural resources and environment.
Youth will practice communicating clearly and confidently.
Youth will demonstrate basic money management skills.
Youth will practice problem solving skills.
Youth will demonstrate acceptance of personal responsibility.
Youth will recognize the importance of strong communication skills.
Youth will practice communicating clearly and confidently.
Youth will recognize importance of money management skills.
Youth will become more aware of the importance of the natural resources and environment they live in.
Outcome: Increased life skills
Indicator: Numbers of youth attending camp and skills gained
Method: Agent and leader observations, camper surveys
Timeline: July -June
Outcome: Increased leadership Skills
Indicator: Numbers of youth participating in the Youth Leadership Program,
Method: Agent and leader observations, participant surveys
Timeline: September – May
Outcome: Increased awareness about the Environment
Indicator: Number of youth participating
Method: Participant Surveys
Timeline: May
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: High School Youth, Gifted and Talented in Leadership
Project or Activity: Youth Leadership Program
Content or Curriculum: Topics selected by committee members
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, specialists, EKU Personnel, Community Leaders
Date: September -May
Audience: McCreary County Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Bee Club
Content or Curriculum: KSU & UT Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants,
Date: July - June
Audience: Pine Knot Elementary Garden Sprouts 4-H Club
Project or Activity: School Garden
Content or Curriculum: Extension & School based
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, school personnel
Date: August -June
Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Projects/Project Week
Content or Curriculum: Project Books
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources.
Date: July
Audience: High School Juniors
Project or Activity: American Private Enterprise Seminar/Kentucky Youth Seminar
Content or Curriculum: APES curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources.
Date: November
Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Pine Knot Elementary and Whitley City Elementary 4-H Art Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H/UK based curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources.
Date: August -June
Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Cooking Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H/UK based curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Program Assistant & SNAP-Ed Program Assistant
Date: August –June
Audience: Youth/Adults
Project or Activity: Environmental Camp/Field Day
Content or Curriculum: A program teaching environmental topics selected by the committee.
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources. Family resource centers, PRIDE, and other community partners.
Date: May
Audience: Youth/Adults
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum; Research-based methods and programming; Local, state, and national partners
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Agents, 4-H Program Assistant, Counselors in Training (CIT), Teen Leaders, and volunteers.
Date: June
Author: Leah VanMeter
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
According to the Center for Disease Control, 19.7% of children (2-19) in the United States from 2017-2020 are classified as obese. In the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH 2020 21: Weight status of the child based on Body Mass Index for age, Kentucky (childhealthdata.org)), 25.5% of children (10-17) in Kentucky are obese (>95th percentile for weight). Obesity is considered a risk factor for health conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diab
